| My Cameras for Trekking and Climbing Custom Object |
| My Cameras for Trekking and Climbing   | 
| Page Type: Custom Object Lat/Lon: 32.84000°N / 113.91°W Object Type: list | Page By: Alan Arnette Created/Edited: Oct 6, 2006 / Jul 4, 2007 Object ID: 232413 Hits: 1862  Loading... Page Score: 87.96% - 11 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
Cameras I OwnNikon D50 6mp with 18-55mm and 55-200mm
Love the image quality. very sharp. With 200mm Nikkor lens can get great closeups from far away. Wonderful battery life. Took over 1000 images in Pakistan on one battery.
I use for local climbs and treks to BC on expeditions. Too big for on-mountain image capture
Canon G7 10mp, 6X optical with image stablization
First "real" improvement in the point and shoot catagory in several years. 6X optical zoom is nice especially with image stablization. 10 mp is more than enough. Another less expensive option is the Canon A710.
HP Photosmart R707 5mp, 3X optical
HP is Pocket size with good sharpness. The Adaptive Lighting is very useful for back-lit scenes. Have used it on Everest at altitude and very cold temps with no problems. JUst got the G7 but like it thus far.
Sony DCR-DVD201 Handycam Digital Video Recorder
Easy to use. nice quality. smaller and cheaper units now available.
What I look for in a "Climbing" CameraThere are a few "must haves" for me in a camera I use during hiking, trekking or climbing. While not all my current cameras have all these features.
This is how I evaluate future purchases for climbing cameras:
- pocket size for climbing (any non-DSLR)
- use AA batteries and not rechargeable batteries since it is difficult to recharge at altitude!
- at least 6X optical zoom - forget about digital zoom all together
- true image stabilization e.g. lens or sensor moves
- optical view finder - do not depend on LCD because: 1)cannot see in bright sun, 2)eats batteries, 3)arm-length grip creates image blur
- excellent physical build quality that can withstand rough treatment
- excellent image quality (research on DPreview.com)
- sufficient mega pixels for cropping and large prints - 6 to 10 mp - but mp are not the key factor in image quality. It is a combination of the image pipeline, quality of lens/optics and software in the camera. But in the end it is the amount of available light!
- 30 frames per second (FPS) in video mode
For hiking or trekking cameras, I make these considerations:
- big zoom e.g. 200mm+
- fast shot to shot time to capture animals or children
- as lightweight and compact as possible but I am wiling to trade this off for other features
- manual controls
Cameras I am Considering
Nikon D80 10mp, with 18-200mm Nikkor lens
I am thrilled with current D50 but the 10mp allows more cropping and almost "film -like" image quality on a high quality printer or service. Also a few more features plus slightly faster. Will wait for the price to come down before upgrading from the D50.
Canon HV10 or Sony HDR-HC3
Would love to capture some climbs in High Definition Video. This HDV seems to offer what I want: HD, image stabilization,lightweight, great quality but ... it is too expensive at $1300 and the battery life is average at about one hour. Another consideration is Sony's HDR-HC3 with better battery life (almost two hours) plus a little easier to use according to some reviews.
Camera Care at AltitudeBatteries
I have had excellent success with batteries in my digital cameras by following these habits:
1. Limit the use of the LCD to almost nothing
2. Turn the camera on to take the picture then turn it back off unless you will shoot 4 or 5 shots within a minute
3. I have NEVER slept with my camera in my bag or carried it in my jacket to keep it warm
4. re-charge at all times when you get a chance
5. "Condition" rechargeable batteries by running it through a 100% drain, recharge cycle at least 3 times when you first get the new battery or camera
Dust and moisture
Dust is common on the trek in the Himalayas or South America. A few tricks may save your camera:
1. Keep it in a breathable plastic bag (e.g. bread bag) or case when not in use.
2. Buy a nice dust brush for the lens. Something like the Quantaray - Lens Pen Brush
3. If it starts raining, put the camera deep in your pack covered with a jacket, bag or in the case. Let it dry out in the direct sun when possible.
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